Kansas Jury Duty Laws: Pay, Excuses and Employer Rules (2026)

Kansas state-court jury service is governed by the jury act in chapter 43 of the Kansas Statutes, starting with the qualifications in K.S.A. 43-156 and the excusal list in K.S.A. 43-158. Jurors are paid a daily amount set by each county commission, between $10 and $50 a day, plus mileage (K.S.A. 43-171).

An employer may not fire or threaten to fire a permanent employee because of jury service (K.S.A. 43-173), but Kansas's jury statute does not require private employers to pay you while you serve. No Kansas statute sets an age at which you can opt out.

Information last verified on October 7, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This page covers jury service in Kansas state (district) courts. A summons from the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas follows federal law, summarized on our jury duty laws by state hub.

Do you have to serve? The short answer

If you meet the qualifications and none of the statutory excuses applies, yes, unless the court excuses or reschedules you. Kansas has two kinds of excuses: a short list of people who "shall be excused" under K.S.A. 43-158, and broader grounds on which the court "may" excuse you under K.S.A. 43-159.

Kansas law has no automatic exemption for age, students, caregivers, health-care workers or public officials in the jury act sections our research covered (K.S.A. 43-155 to 43-174). Any of those situations goes through the court's hardship or deferral process. To sort out which route might fit you before contacting the court, try our jury duty exemption checker.

Who can serve on a jury in Kansas

K.S.A. 43-156 says: "Every juror, grand and petit, shall be a citizen of the state, resident of the county and possess the qualifications of an elector as now, or in the future established." The same section bars excluding anyone on account of race, color, religion, sex, national origin or economic status.

The Kansas Constitution (art. 5, § 1) treats a U.S. citizen who is at least 18 and lives in the voting area as a qualified elector, so in practice you must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen, and a resident of the county that summoned you.

A constitutional amendment (2025 HCR 5004) is set to go to Kansas voters at the November 2026 general election. It would reword art. 5, § 1 to say a person is a qualified elector only if a U.S. citizen at least 18 who lives in the voting area. It is a pending ballot question, not current law, and because the jury statute already requires state citizenship and elector status, it would not change the age or residency rules (2025 HCR 5004, enrolled).

Felony convictions: two separate rules

Kansas has two felony provisions, and readers often hear about only one of them:

• Ineligibility until the sentence is complete. Under K.S.A. 21-6613, a person convicted of a felony in any state or federal court is ineligible "to serve as a juror in any civil or criminal case." The statute says: "The ineligibilities imposed by this section shall attach upon conviction and shall continue until such person has completed the terms of the authorized sentence."
• The 10-year excuse. Under K.S.A. 43-158(c), a person who within the preceding 10 years has been convicted of, or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony charge shall be excused from jury service.

So a person who has completed the sentence is no longer ineligible under 21-6613, but the 10-year excuse in 43-158(c) can still apply until 10 years have passed. The sources we reviewed do not say how individual courts apply the two rules together. If you have a felony record and receive a summons, answer the questionnaire truthfully and ask the clerk of the district court that issued the summons.

Exemptions, excuses and postponements in Kansas

The "shall be excused" list

K.S.A. 43-158 lists five groups who "shall be excused from jury service": people unable to understand English well enough to respond to the jury questionnaire, people under adjudication of incompetency, people with a felony conviction or plea in the last 10 years, people who served as jurors in the county within the last year, and a breastfeeding mother. For the last group the statute says: "Jury service shall be postponed until such mother is no longer breastfeeding the child."

The statute does not describe the paperwork. The Sedgwick County district court presents the same list as disqualifications and asks jurors to contact the jury clerk, with documentation in some cases, to be released.

Hardship and other court-discretion excuses

Under K.S.A. 43-159, the court "may" excuse, in addition to the 43-158 groups, people "so physically or mentally infirm as to be unequal to the task of ordinary jury duty," people whose presence elsewhere is required for the public welfare, health or safety, and "persons for whom jury service would cause extraordinary or compelling personal hardship." These are decisions for the court, not automatic releases.

The 11th Judicial District (Cherokee, Crawford and Labette counties) says parents of small children are not automatically excused because of child care issues, and that medical excuse requests should come with physician confirmation if possible (11th Judicial District).

The Kansas Supreme Court's Standards Relating to Jury Use and Management, which the court describes as guidelines for the district courts rather than binding rules, say requests for deferral "should be liberally permitted" and that each judicial district should adopt its own guidelines for excusal and deferral (Kansas Supreme Court Standards). That is why the process differs from county to county.

Postponing (deferring) your service

No Kansas statute sets how many times you may postpone; the breastfeeding provision is the only postponement written into the jury act. Practice is set by each district. Sedgwick County says: "If jury service on the scheduled date would cause you temporary extraordinary or compelling personal hardship, your jury service can be changed to a later date. Request for deferred jury service must be made before the date on your summons by calling the Jury Clerk at 316-660-9101. Jury service may be rescheduled one time only" (Sedgwick County jury FAQ).

The 11th Judicial District says a deferment to a later jury panel may be an alternative for certain short-term medical, job or other conflicts. If you were summoned elsewhere, call the clerk listed on your summons and ask about that district's deferral rules.

Age: no statewide age-out

No Kansas statute sets a maximum juror age or an age-based excuse; the jury act sections reviewed (K.S.A. 43-155 to 43-174) contain none, and the Supreme Court Standards list no age ground. The 6th Judicial District (Bourbon, Linn and Miami counties) says: "While there is a no law regarding the maximum age of jurors, the 6th Judicial District will excuse jurors over the age of 75, if requested" (6th Judicial District).

That is one district's policy. Sedgwick County says jurors over 70 who are unable to serve because of their own or a spouse's health need no medical statement and should contact the jury clerk (Sedgwick County jury FAQ). Elsewhere, an older juror whose health makes service difficult can ask the court to excuse them under the infirmity or hardship grounds in K.S.A. 43-159.

Military service members

K.S.A. 48-211(b) says: "All members of the Kansas army and air national guard shall be exempt from jury duty during annual training, during the time the member is ordered by the governor to perform active state service under K.S.A. 48-238 or 48-241, and amendments thereto, or during the time the member is ordered to perform active state service under K.S.A. 48-242, and amendments thereto." The exemption is limited to those periods, and the statute does not say how to claim it, so tell the clerk on your summons.

Federal law separately says an active-duty member of the armed forces may not be required to serve on a state or local jury if the member's branch Secretary determines that service would unreasonably interfere with military duties or adversely affect unit readiness, and that determination is conclusive (10 U.S.C. § 982). It is a decision by the Secretary, not an automatic exemption.

How much does jury duty pay in Kansas?

K.S.A. 43-171 says jurors are paid from the county general fund "an amount, not less than $10 nor more than $50, as determined by the county commission, for each day of attendance," plus "mileage, at the rate authorized by law, for necessary travel in going to and returning from court." The daily rate therefore depends on your county.

Official district court pages show how widely it varies:

Sedgwick County's page says: "You will be paid $10.00 the first day, $30.00 a day thereafter, and mileage to and from the courthouse each day that you are here for service" (Sedgwick County jury information). The 6th District says the county pays around the first of the following month (6th District), and the 16th District's figures are on its own page (16th District).

We could not confirm the rates in Johnson or Wyandotte counties from an official page, and the statute does not print the current mileage figure. Check your summons or ask your county's jury clerk for the rate that applies to you.

Kansas employer rules for jury duty

Job protection covers permanent employees

K.S.A. 43-173(a) says: "No employer shall discharge or threaten to discharge any permanent employee by reason of such employee's jury service, or the attendance or scheduled attendance in connection with such service, in any court of Kansas."

Two limits matter. The protection is written for "permanent" employees, a term the section does not define, and it covers discharge and threats of discharge rather than every kind of discipline. The section has no advance-notice condition and no minimum employer size. Telling your employer as soon as you receive the summons is still sensible.

Does your employer have to pay you?

Kansas's jury statute does not require private employers to pay you while you serve. The 11th Judicial District puts it plainly: "Employers are not, however, required to pay their employees while they are serving on a jury. Some employers may voluntarily have policies that allow payment of normal wages during an absence for jury duty. If in doubt, check with your employer" (11th Judicial District). Kansas state employees in regular positions are an exception: a state personnel regulation says each such employee "shall be granted leave with pay by their appointing authority" for required jury duty (K.A.R. 1-9-8). School and local government employees should check their own leave rules.

The jury act sections reviewed also say nothing about whether an employer can make you use vacation or sick leave, or about night-shift schedules. Check your employer's policy or any union contract. Sedgwick County gives jurors a work certificate they can show their employer.

If you are fired or threatened

Under K.S.A. 43-173, an employer who violates the section "Shall be liable for damages for any loss of wages, actual damages and other benefits suffered by an employee by reason of such violation," "shall be ordered to reinstate any employee discharged by reason of such employee's jury service," and may be enjoined and ordered to provide other appropriate relief. A reinstated employee is treated as having been on furlough or leave of absence during the jury service, without loss of seniority.

An employee who wins through retained counsel may be awarded reasonable attorney fees as part of costs. An employer who wins can recover fees only if the court finds the case frivolous or brought in bad faith. The jury statute does not state a filing deadline. Kansas's general limitations statutes set two-year and three-year periods for different kinds of claims (K.S.A. 60-513 and K.S.A. 60-512), and the sources we reviewed do not say which applies, so talk to a Kansas employment lawyer promptly. For how this fits with other limits on firing, see our page on Kansas at-will employment laws.

What happens if you miss jury duty in Kansas

K.S.A. 43-165 says: "Unexcused, nonattendance of a person summoned unless reasonable cause for such nonattendance be shown to the satisfaction of the court shall be punished by the imposition of a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) for each day of unexcused absence." The same section lets each judicial district make rules about jury service and enforce them by attachment and a fine of up to $100.

The 11th District adds that failure to appear "may result in contempt of court." If you missed your date, call the jury clerk right away; the statute lets the court weigh whether you had reasonable cause.

The jury questionnaire matters too. Under K.S.A. 43-161, a person selected for a jury list who fails or refuses to answer the jury commissioner's questions in writing and sign them "shall be cited for contempt of court," and a person who "willfully or corruptly makes false answers" is guilty of a class A nonperson misdemeanor.

How long jury duty lasts in Kansas

No Kansas statute fixes a term of service. K.S.A. 43-165 lets each judicial district decide how many jurors to summon and how long they are summoned. If you served as a juror in the county within the preceding year, you shall be excused under K.S.A. 43-158(d).

Sedgwick County says: "All jury panels are called for a one-week period. If you are not selected as a juror during that week, your service will be concluded. If you are selected as a juror, your service will be over when the case is over. Although some cases last longer than one week, the vast majority of cases will average three or four days." The 6th, 11th and 16th District pages say jurors are not required to serve more than once in a 12-month period.

How to respond to a Kansas jury summons

We did not find a statewide Kansas juror portal on kscourts.gov; each judicial district runs its own jury process. The 11th District says: "If you receive a jury summons, but do not qualify, please contact the clerk of the district court in the county from which your summons was issued."

1. Read the summons for your district's instructions and deadlines.
2. In Sedgwick County, complete the online juror questionnaire within 10 days of receiving the summons, through the court's jury service page. Questions go to the jury clerk at 316-660-9101 or sg.jury@kscourts.gov.
3. If one of the 43-158 grounds applies, or you want to ask for a hardship excuse or deferral, contact the clerk before your report date and send any documentation requested. Some districts handle this differently; Shawnee County, for example, says that to be excused for other than health reasons "you must appear in person and speak to the judge on the date you are summoned" (Shawnee County exemptions page).
4. Treat your report date as firm until the court confirms its decision.

Watch for jury duty scam calls

The Sedgwick County district court warns: "The court will not ask for your Social Security number, credit card, or bank account information. If you receive a phone call or mailing from someone claiming to be a court official and requesting this type of information, please hang up immediately as those calls are fraudulent and not connected with the District Court." It says the only personal information the court will request is the juror number printed on your mailing.

Our guide to government impersonation scams explains how these schemes work, and our page on Kansas scam and fraud laws covers where to report.

Disclaimer: This page is general legal information about Kansas state-court jury service, not legal advice. The court that summoned you decides every excuse and deferral request. Information verified October 7, 2026. For questions about your summons, contact the clerk of the district court listed on it; for an employment dispute, consult a lawyer licensed in Kansas.

Related pages

• Jury duty laws by state
• Kansas at-will employment laws
• Kansas court records
• Kansas scam and fraud laws
• Missouri jury duty laws
• Nebraska jury duty laws

Last updated: October 7, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does jury duty pay in Kansas?

Each county commission sets the daily amount between $10 and $50, plus mileage (K.S.A. 43-171). For example, Sedgwick County pays $10 the first day and $30 a day after that, and the 16th Judicial District pays $25 a day.

Can I get out of jury duty in Kansas because of my age?

No Kansas statute sets an age-based excuse. The 6th Judicial District says it will excuse jurors over 75 if requested, and Sedgwick County says jurors over 70 who are unable to serve because of their own or a spouse's health need no medical statement. Elsewhere, an older juror can ask the court for an excuse based on infirmity or hardship under K.S.A. 43-159.

Does my employer have to pay me for jury duty in Kansas?

Kansas's jury statute does not require private employers to pay you while you serve, and Kansas district courts say so on their juror pages. Kansas state employees in regular positions are an exception: a state personnel regulation, K.A.R. 1-9-8, says they shall be granted leave with pay for required jury duty. School and local government employees should check their own leave rules.

Can I be fired for jury duty in Kansas?

K.S.A. 43-173 bars an employer from discharging or threatening to discharge a permanent employee because of jury service. A violating employer is liable for lost wages, actual damages and benefits and must be ordered to reinstate a fired employee.

Can a felon serve on a jury in Kansas?

A person convicted of a felony is ineligible to serve as a juror until completing the terms of the authorized sentence (K.S.A. 21-6613). A person convicted of a felony within the preceding 10 years shall also be excused (K.S.A. 43-158(c)).

What happens if I miss jury duty in Kansas?

Unless you show reasonable cause to the court's satisfaction, unexcused nonattendance is punished by a fine of up to $100 for each day of unexcused absence (K.S.A. 43-165).

Is there a breastfeeding exemption for jury duty in Kansas?

Yes. Under K.S.A. 43-158(e), a breastfeeding mother shall be excused, and her service is postponed until she is no longer breastfeeding the child.

How often can I be called for jury duty in Kansas?

A person who served as a juror in the county within the preceding year shall be excused (K.S.A. 43-158(d)). Several district courts say jurors are not required to serve more than once in a 12-month period.